Med Crude-Urals steady in north, scope for strength in south

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - Spot differentials for Russia's medium sour Urals held steady on Tuesday but traders saw scope for some strength in the Mediterranean with a shorter programme.

However, a larger Iraqi Kirkuk export programme in April was expected to balance the region slightly, one trader said, though Iraq Basra Light loadings were still held back by 5-7 day delays.

"Additional Kirkuk for April could balance the shorter Novorossiisk programme," the trader said.

In the Platts window, BP offered a 100,000 tonne Urals cargo at dated Brent minus $2.15 cif Rotterdam, loading April 16-20. Lukoil offered another cargo at dated Brent minus $2.10 cif Rotterdam, loading April 16-20, but no buying interest surfaced.

Vitol withdrew an offer for a cargo of Kazakh CPC Blend at dated Brent minus 5 cents, loading April 11-15.

Generally, the grade was still pegged at dated Brent minus 40-50 cents.

In tender news, Surgut awarded its latest tender for Primorsk cargoes at dated Brent minus $2.10-$2.20 cif Rotterdam and Ust Luga at dated Brent minus $2.30 cif Rotterdam, traders said.

BP won the April 10-11, Total the April 11-12, Shell won April 13-14 and 14-15 and Repsol won the Ust Luga cargo loading April 12-13.

Libya's April official selling prices (OSP) were considered a bit strong but March disruptions in Nigeria and Libya helped buoy prices for light sweet grades generally.

Libya's NOC raised the April OSP on its main export grade Es Sider to dated Brent plus 5 cents a barrel, a trading source said on Monday, from dated Brent flat in March.

"If May OSPs are again punchy then you could see buyers start to back away," another trader said.

(Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Anthony Barker)

(([e-mail])([phone])(Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]))

((For a database of oil supply and demand fundamentals upstream and downstream, Reuters subscribers can click on

((MED CRUDE OIL DIFFERENTIAL AND OUTRIGHT PRICE ASSESSMENTS:

Urals Med Urals NWE Kirkuk Siberian Light Saharan Blend CPC Blend Azeri CRUDE ARBITRAGE STORIES CRUDE OIL TRADES NORTH SEA CRUDE REPORT AFRICAN CRUDE REPORT

Russia oil export schedule, monthly

Russia oil exports, table, monthly

Russia oil output by company, monthly

Russia oil output/exports, monthly

Russia product export, monthly

energy speed guide crude speed guide NYMEX crude ICE crude OPEC North Sea crude oil oil products derivatives European products Latest ICE Latest NYMEX )) ))

Keywords: MARKETS MEDITERRANEAN/CRUDE